1 When|strong="G3753" Jesus|strong="G2424" finished|strong="G5055" these|strong="G3588" instructions|strong="G1299" for|strong="G1722" his|strong="G0846" twelve|strong="G1427" followers, he|strong="G2532" left|strong="G3327" there|strong="G1564". He|strong="G2532" went|strong="G1096" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" towns|strong="G4172" in|strong="G1722" Galilee to|strong="G2532" teach|strong="G1321" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" tell them|strong="G0846" God’s|strong="G0846" message.
2 When|strong="G1161" John|strong="G2491" was|strong="G3588" in|strong="G1722" prison|strong="G1201", he|strong="G0846" heard|strong="G0191" about|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G0846" that|strong="G0191" were|strong="G3101" happening—things|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3588" Messiah|strong="G5547" would|strong="G5547" do|strong="G2041". So|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" sent|strong="G3992" some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G1223" his|strong="G0846" followers to|strong="G1722" Jesus|strong="G0846".
3 They|strong="G0846" asked|strong="G3004" him|strong="G0846", “Are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" we|strong="G1510" have|strong="G1510" been|strong="G1510" expecting|strong="G4328", or|strong="G2228" should we|strong="G1510" wait for|strong="G4328" someone|strong="G2087" else|strong="G2087"?”
4 Jesus|strong="G2424" answered|strong="G0611", “Go|strong="G4198" tell|strong="G3004" John|strong="G2491" what|strong="G3739" you|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" heard|strong="G0191" and|strong="G2532" seen|strong="G0991":
5 The|strong="G2532" blind|strong="G5185" can see|strong="G0308". The|strong="G2532" crippled can walk|strong="G4043". People|strong="G0191" with|strong="G2532" leprosy are|strong="G2532" healed. The|strong="G2532" deaf|strong="G2974" can hear|strong="G0191". The|strong="G2532" dead|strong="G3498" are|strong="G2532" brought|strong="G2097" back to|strong="G2532" life|strong="G4043". And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" Good|strong="G2097" News|strong="G2097" is|strong="G2532" being told to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" poor|strong="G4434".
6 Great blessings belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" those|strong="G1722" who|strong="G3739" don’t|strong="G3361" have|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" problem accepting me|strong="G1473".”
7 When|strong="G1161" John’s|strong="G2491" followers left|strong="G1831", Jesus|strong="G2424" began|strong="G0757" talking|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3793" about|strong="G4012" John|strong="G2491". He|strong="G3778" said|strong="G3004", “What|strong="G5101" did|strong="G1831" you|strong="G3004" people|strong="G3793" go|strong="G4198" out|strong="G1831" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" desert|strong="G2048" to|strong="G1519" see|strong="G2300"? Someone who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G5101" weak, like a|strong="G3793" stem of|strong="G4012" grass blowing in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" wind|strong="G0417"?
8 Really, what|strong="G5101" did|strong="G1510" you|strong="G1722" expect to|strong="G1722" see|strong="G3708"? Someone|strong="G0444" dressed|strong="G0294" in|strong="G1722" fine clothes|strong="G0294"? Of|strong="G3624" course not|strong="G1510". People|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" wear|strong="G5409" fine clothes|strong="G0294" are|strong="G1510" all|strong="G3588" in|strong="G1722" kings’|strong="G0935" palaces|strong="G3624".
9 So|strong="G2532" what|strong="G5101" did|strong="G3708" you|strong="G5210" go|strong="G1831" out|strong="G1831" to|strong="G3004" see|strong="G3708"? A|strong="G3708" prophet|strong="G4396"? Yes|strong="G3483", John|strong="G3004" is|strong="G5101" a|strong="G3708" prophet|strong="G4396". But|strong="G0235" I|strong="G2532" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G5101" more than|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3004".
10 This|strong="G3778" Scripture|strong="G1125" was|strong="G1510" written|strong="G1125" about|strong="G4012" him|strong="G3739":
11 “The|strong="G3588" truth is|strong="G1510" that|strong="G3004" John|strong="G2491" the|strong="G3588" Baptizer is|strong="G1510" greater|strong="G3173" than|strong="G3173" anyone|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" has|strong="G1510" ever come|strong="G1510" into|strong="G1722" this|strong="G3588" world. But|strong="G1161" even|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" least|strong="G3398" important|strong="G3173" person|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1722" God’s|strong="G0846" kingdom|strong="G0932" is|strong="G1510" greater|strong="G3173" than|strong="G3173" John|strong="G2491".
12 Since|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" time|strong="G2250" John|strong="G2491" the|strong="G3588" Baptizer came until|strong="G2193" now|strong="G1161", God’s|strong="G0846" kingdom|strong="G0932" has|strong="G0910" been|strong="G2532" going forward strongly. And|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0846" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" trying to|strong="G2193" take|strong="G0726" control of|strong="G0932" it|strong="G0846" by|strong="G0575" force|strong="G0726".
13 Before|strong="G2193" John|strong="G2491" came, the|strong="G3956" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G3551" Moses and|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" prophets|strong="G4396" told about|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3956" would|strong="G4396" happen.
14 And|strong="G2532" if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G1487" believe what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" said|strong="G2532", then|strong="G2532" John|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" Elijah|strong="G2243". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" said|strong="G2532" would|strong="G3195" come|strong="G2064".
15 You|strong="G0191" people|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" hear|strong="G0191" me|strong="G2192", listen|strong="G0191"!
16 “What|strong="G5101" can I|strong="G3739" say about|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510" who|strong="G3739" live|strong="G2521" today? What|strong="G5101" are|strong="G1510" they|strong="G3739" like|strong="G3664"? The|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510" today are|strong="G1510" like|strong="G3664" children|strong="G3813" sitting|strong="G2521" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" marketplace. One|strong="G3739" group of|strong="G1722" children|strong="G3813" calls to|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" other|strong="G2087" group,
17 ‘We|strong="G2532" played|strong="G0832" flute|strong="G0832" music for|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210",
18 Why|strong="G1063" do|strong="G2192" I|strong="G2532" say|strong="G3004" people|strong="G2068" are|strong="G2532" like that|strong="G3004"? Because|strong="G1063" John|strong="G2491" came|strong="G2064", not|strong="G3383" eating|strong="G2068" like other people|strong="G2068" or|strong="G2532" drinking|strong="G4095" wine, and|strong="G2532" people|strong="G2068" say|strong="G3004", ‘He|strong="G2532" has|strong="G2192" a|strong="G2192" demon|strong="G1140" inside him|strong="G2532".’
19 The|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Man|strong="G0444" came|strong="G2064" eating|strong="G2068" and|strong="G2532" drinking|strong="G4095", and|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0444" say|strong="G3004", ‘Look|strong="G2400" at|strong="G3588" him|strong="G0846"! He|strong="G2532" eats|strong="G2068" too|strong="G2532" much and|strong="G2532" drinks|strong="G4095" too|strong="G2532" much wine. He’s a|strong="G3708" friend|strong="G5384" of|strong="G5207" tax|strong="G5057" collectors|strong="G5057" and|strong="G2532" other|strong="G0846" sinners|strong="G0268".’ But|strong="G2532" wisdom|strong="G4678" is|strong="G0444" shown to|strong="G3004" be|strong="G2532" right by|strong="G0575" what|strong="G3588" it|strong="G0846" does|strong="G2068".”
20 Then|strong="G5119" Jesus|strong="G0846" criticized the|strong="G3588" cities|strong="G4172" where|strong="G3739" he|strong="G0846" did|strong="G3340" most|strong="G4183" of|strong="G1411" his|strong="G0846" miracles|strong="G1411". He|strong="G0846" criticized these|strong="G3739" cities|strong="G4172" because|strong="G3754" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" there|strong="G1722" did|strong="G3340" not|strong="G3756" change their|strong="G0846" lives and|strong="G1411" stop sinning.
21 Jesus|strong="G2532" said|strong="G1096", “It|strong="G2532" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G1096" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" Chorazin|strong="G5523"! It|strong="G2532" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G1096" bad for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" Bethsaida|strong="G0966"! I|strong="G2532" did|strong="G3340" many miracles|strong="G1411" in|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210". If|strong="G1487" these|strong="G3748" same|strong="G2532" miracles|strong="G1411" had|strong="G3748" happened|strong="G1096" in|strong="G1722" Tyre|strong="G5184" and|strong="G2532" Sidon|strong="G4605", the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" there|strong="G1722" would|strong="G0302" have|strong="G2532" changed their|strong="G2532" lives a|strong="G1096" long|strong="G3819" time|strong="G3819" ago|strong="G3819". They|strong="G2532" would|strong="G0302" have|strong="G2532" worn sackcloth|strong="G4526" and|strong="G2532" put|strong="G1096" ashes|strong="G4700" on|strong="G1722" themselves|strong="G1722" to|strong="G2532" show|strong="G1096" that|strong="G3754" they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G1096" sorry for|strong="G3754" their|strong="G2532" sins.
22 But|strong="G2532" I|strong="G2532" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", on|strong="G1722" the|strong="G2532" day|strong="G2250" of|strong="G2250" judgment|strong="G2920" it|strong="G1510" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" worse for|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" than|strong="G2228" for|strong="G1722" Tyre|strong="G5184" and|strong="G2532" Sidon|strong="G4605".
23 “And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771", Capernaum|strong="G2584", will|strong="G3748" you|strong="G4771" be|strong="G1096" lifted|strong="G5312" up to|strong="G2193" heaven|strong="G3772"? No|strong="G3361"! You|strong="G4771" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G1096" thrown down|strong="G2597" to|strong="G2193" the|strong="G3588" place|strong="G1096" of|strong="G1411" death. I|strong="G2532" did|strong="G1096" many miracles|strong="G1411" in|strong="G1722" you|strong="G4771". If|strong="G1487" these|strong="G3748" same|strong="G2532" miracles|strong="G1411" had|strong="G3748" happened|strong="G1096" in|strong="G1722" Sodom|strong="G4670", the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" there|strong="G1722" would|strong="G0302" have|strong="G2532" stopped sinning, and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2193" would|strong="G0302" still|strong="G2193" be|strong="G1096" a|strong="G1096" city today|strong="G4594".
24 But|strong="G4133" I|strong="G3754" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210", it|strong="G1510" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" worse for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" day|strong="G2250" of|strong="G2250" judgment|strong="G2920" than|strong="G2228" for|strong="G3754" Sodom|strong="G4670".”
25 Then|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G2424" said|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G2532" praise|strong="G1843" you|strong="G4771", Father|strong="G3962", Lord|strong="G2962" of|strong="G0575" heaven|strong="G3772" and|strong="G2532" earth|strong="G1093". I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G2532" thankful that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G4771" have|strong="G2532" hidden|strong="G2928" these|strong="G3778" things|strong="G3778" from|strong="G0575" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3778" so|strong="G2532" wise|strong="G4680" and|strong="G2532" so|strong="G2532" smart. But|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" have|strong="G2532" shown them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G3004" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3778" like|strong="G0846" little children|strong="G3516".
26 Yes|strong="G3483", Father|strong="G3962", you|strong="G4771" did|strong="G1096" this|strong="G3779" because|strong="G3754" it’s what|strong="G3588" you|strong="G4771" really wanted to|strong="G1096" do|strong="G1096".
27 “My|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962" has|strong="G3962" given|strong="G3860" me|strong="G1473" everything|strong="G3956". No|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" knows|strong="G1921" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207"—only|strong="G1487" the|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962" knows|strong="G1921" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207". And|strong="G2532" no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" knows|strong="G1921" the|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962"—only|strong="G1487" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207" knows|strong="G1921" the|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962". And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" only|strong="G1487" people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" know|strong="G1921" about|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962" are|strong="G3956" those|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207" chooses to|strong="G2532" tell.
28 “Come|strong="G1205" to|strong="G4314" me|strong="G1473" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G3956" you|strong="G5210" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3956" tired from|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" heavy burden you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" forced to|strong="G4314" carry. I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3956" give|strong="G0373" you|strong="G5210" rest|strong="G0373".
29 Accept my|strong="G0142" teaching. Learn|strong="G3129" from|strong="G0575" me|strong="G1473". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" gentle|strong="G4239" and|strong="G2532" humble|strong="G5011" in|strong="G1909" spirit|strong="G2588". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" able to|strong="G1909" get|strong="G0142" some|strong="G3588" rest|strong="G0372".
30 Yes|strong="G1063", the|strong="G3588" teaching that|strong="G1510" I|strong="G1473" ask you|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" accept is|strong="G1510" easy|strong="G5543". The|strong="G3588" load|strong="G5413" I|strong="G1473" give you|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" carry is|strong="G1510" light|strong="G1645".”